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Rocky Mountain National Park & Estes Park Itinerary

Estes Park and neighboring Rocky Mountain National Park are two of Colorado's top destinations for families and lovers of scenic beauty. Spend a day exploring the Estes' main street and the natural glories of the Colorado Rockies.

ByColorado.com Staff Writer

Updated: 1/5/2015

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Morning

One of the most popular parks in the country, Rocky Mountain National Park welcomes 3 million visitors each year and still manages to nurture cravings for solitude. Daybreak is the best time to explore the park’s stunning see-through lakes, sweeping meadows and dew-spritzed forests. The park's eastern entrance is in the town of Estes Park. The park will celebrate its 100th anniversary from September 2014 through September 2015 — find related events >>

For a true Rocky Mountain high, take a drive on Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved through-road in North America. This rollercoaster route crosses the Continental Divide and offers breathtaking photo ops as you climb past subalpine forests and windswept tundra to 12,183 feet above sea level.

A family hiking trail inside Rocky Mountain National Park

Strolling along Estes Park's Riverwalk, Estes Park, CO

Downtown Estes Park lights up in the shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park

Or enjoy one of the park’s easier hikes and follow signs to the Bear Lake trailhead where you’ll embark on a mellow loop to the lake and back. For a little more challenge, try the 2.8-mile Mills Lake trek. You’ll be rewarded with grand views of 14,259-foot-tall Longs Peak and the Keyboard of the Winds, a whimsical rock formation named for its shape. Or enjoy a family wildflower hike to Gem Lake or Bridal Veil Falls.

Pull over at Moraine Park for prime wildlife watching. More than 3,000 elk and 800 bighorn sheep live in Rocky Mountain National Park, and this U-shaped valley is a regular gathering spot for bugling elk. Keep an eye out for mule deer, coyotes, eagles and the occasional moose.

Inside the park, the Rocky Mountain Nature Association offers year-round seminars where guided fly-fishing, snowshoeing, wildlife viewing or camping trips will give you the inside scoop on the area’s ecology.

Afternoon

Estes Park is the gateway into the national park, but it’s also a destination unto itself. Window-shop along Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park’s bustling main thoroughfare. Filled with one-of-a-kind stores, several fine restaurants and plenty of places for an afternoon snack, the area is just steps from the park’s eastern entrance. Stop for coffee and sit outside on the Riverwalk.

One block off Elkhorn Avenue, the beautifully landscaped path follows the Big Thompson River as it flows through town. Take the path east for a tranquil walk around Lake Estes or stop at the marina to rent bikes, pontoon boats or kayaks. Then, enjoy a glass of wine paired with a made-in-Colorado snack inside Snowy Peak Winery’s newly expanded tasting room or ride 1,100 feet up the side of Prospect Mountain on the aerial tramway for fantastic views of Estes and the surrounding peaks.

Evening

Wind down with cocktails and dinner at the storied Stanley Hotel. The elegant 103-year-old, white-pillared landmark sits on a hill overlooking downtown Estes Park. Guided ghost tours take you through an underground tunnel and reveal how Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining while staying in room 217. Stop by the beautifully crafted antique Cascades Whiskey Bar to choose from 250 different wine labels and the largest whiskey collection in the state.

Winter Fun

From extreme sports such as ice climbing and backcountry split-boarding to more relaxed activities like snowshoeing and curling up by the fire, Estes Park also caters to winter visitors. It’s easy to get there year-round and offers an alternative to the bustling ski resorts.